Shadowing Question.

[quynhhuong]

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To apply for DO schools, do you have to shadow a DO physician? or it can be an MD because I'm having trouble looking for an DO in my area.

 

[sarahg]

Depends on the school -- some require you to shadow a DO, some do not.

 

[justh0ang]

go DO if you can just to be safe.

 

[Mohammed1989]

I say look for a DO since that's what your going for. I mean if you can't locate one then a MD should be good enough.

 

[Doctor Bob]

If you can't find a DO in your area, shadow an MD.

Then in your application letters to DO schools, talk about how you noticed a lack of DOs in your area and how you hope to go back there after graduation to fill the void.

 

[quynhhuong]

thank you to all your wonderful replies. I guess I'll just shadow an MD and go from there.

 

[Semicolon]

Just understand that without a DO letter, you won't be able to apply to a few schools that require one. That's really the only major disadvantage.

 

[chasemydream]

Depends on the school -- some require you to shadow a DO, some do not.

Where can we find out which schools require DO shadowing and which don't. Because I have the similar problem: can't find a DO nearby my area. I don't want to waste my money to apply to a school that requires shadowing with a DO

 

[Melicopter]

The CIB has that info. The individual school pages will say under requirements for the secondary whether or not a DO letter is required.

http://www.aacom.org/resources/bookstore/cib/Pages/default.aspx

 

[scummie]

I had the hardest time finding a DO to shadow. I clicked all the links everyone posted and no one came through. I had just about given up when I got the bright idea to Google Maps a DO. Called the first one I found and I'm shadowing her on Monday. Ironic, considering the whole phone call took less than five minutes and I'd spent the last few weeks trying to find a DO.

 

[CuttinEmUp]

If you can't get a letter from a D.O., then at least try to get one to sit with you for 5-10 minutes in a question/answer type situation. If you tell any D.O. that your interested in that profession, I'd imagine most would be willing and happy to answer your questions then perhaps write a letter conveying their impression that you seem genuinely interested and generally knowledgable about the profession to which your applying.

 

[Doctor Bob]

If you can't get a letter from a D.O., then at least try to get one to sit with you for 5-10 minutes in a question/answer type situation. If you tell any D.O. that your interested in that profession, I'd imagine most would be willing and happy to answer your questions then perhaps write a letter conveying their impression that you seem genuinely interested and generally knowledgable about the profession to which your applying.

Respectfully, I disagree.
Yes, it would be good to sit down and talk with a DO because it will allow you to answer your interview questions better.

But trying to get a letter from them wouldn't be good. For a few reasons.

1. They can't really assess anything about you. Saying you were interested enough to come ask questions about the profession is nice, but in a way begs the question of why you didn't volunteer/shadow. Plus the letter writer will have to say they've only known you for a short short time, and that'll raise the question in the letter reader's mind of "why couldn't this person get letters from anyone else?"

2. A letter should be written by someone who knows you and can talk about why you would be a good doctor. In this situation, the person writing the letter can't do that. Programs will usually only read a few LORs per person (you can't deluge a program with 20-30 letters). Make them all count.

3. Doctors get asked all the time to write letters by people who we've had maybe 20-30 minutes of interaction with. Attendings I've worked with and I have had good laughs after they get these requests because they're kind of silly.

 

[CuttinEmUp]

I agree with you...but my advice only applied if the poster could NOT get a lor. of course the letter would be ideal and much more appropriate, but some doctors won't feel comfortable writing a lor just based on a 20 min. conversation, but may feel better to write something like what i suggested.

Respectfully, I disagree.
Yes, it would be good to sit down and talk with a DO because it will allow you to answer your interview questions better.

But trying to get a letter from them wouldn't be good. For a few reasons.

1. They can't really assess anything about you. Saying you were interested enough to come ask questions about the profession is nice, but in a way begs the question of why you didn't volunteer/shadow. Plus the letter writer will have to say they've only known you for a short short time, and that'll raise the question in the letter reader's mind of "why couldn't this person get letters from anyone else?"

2. A letter should be written by someone who knows you and can talk about why you would be a good doctor. In this situation, the person writing the letter can't do that. Programs will usually only read a few LORs per person (you can't deluge a program with 20-30 letters). Make them all count.

3. Doctors get asked all the time to write letters by people who we've had maybe 20-30 minutes of interaction with. Attendings I've worked with and I have had good laughs after they get these requests because they're kind of silly.

 

[twocentnews]

I am going to be shadowing a DO once a week every week for the next 10 weeks this summer.

You think I can ask for a letter of rec from him? Is that a good enough amt of time?

 

[Chocolate Bear]

I am going to be shadowing a DO once a week every week for the next 10 weeks this summer.

You think I can ask for a letter of rec from him? Is that a good enough amt of time?

Yes. You should definitely get to know this doc and let him get to know you, so the letter can be a sincere one. Don't let this letter opportunity pass you by! 👍

 

[CuttinEmUp]

I am going to be shadowing a DO once a week every week for the next 10 weeks this summer.

You think I can ask for a letter of rec from him? Is that a good enough amt of time?

thats a sufficient period of time, you should definetly show enthusiasm and interest during your shadowing experience, and I'm sure your doctor will be happy to write a confident letter of rec 🙂

 

[quynhhuong]

Yay, I've found a DO to shadow after dealing with whole bunch of meanies. This one even accepts me before knowing who i was. The key is to keep calling to the clinics/hospital nonstop. I'm hoping to ask him for a recommendation.
Again thank you guys for ur inputs!

 

[medready]

yeah quynhhuong I know how you feel when I was looking for a DO to shadow last year I must have called or emailed over 30 offices before I found one willing to let me shadow. Persistence paid off in end.

 

[twocentnews]

Yes. You should definitely get to know this doc and let him get to know you, so the letter can be a sincere one. Don't let this letter opportunity pass you by! 👍

Thanks for the advice, ChocolateBear, one more question: should I bring a notebook or something with me on my shadowing days? Today, when I went, he spent a lot of time explaining the different procedures to me and the anatomies, etc.

Also, I am only shadowing 4-5 hrs. each day for the 10 days, so approx. 40-50 hrs in total.

 

[quynhhuong]

You should definitely bring a notebook. I'm shadowing in the ED right now, i jot down the procedures, gender, age of the patients and the medicines doctors prescribe. You can really use these information and cooperate them into your personal statement.